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Please describe your Program & Research area, and the specific research work you’re currently doing.

I entered an Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Neuroscience.  The program is research-oriented so the bulk of what I do is design experiments.  I use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to look at brain activity in response to different cognitive functions.  More specifically, I look at how emotional arousal influences episodic memory—what arousing features of an event or item makes it more likely that we would remember that event or item more distinctly at some later time.

What are your long-term career goals?

I think that actually fluctuates by the day.  Most times, my main goal is to settle in academia.  So that means starting a postdoctoral position after graduate school, and then finding a faculty job somewhere.  I like the combination of teaching and research so I find academia quite appealing.
But on other days, when I feel a bit fed up with academia, I start considering getting an industry job-- only for a short time, though, just to get away from academia.  I have not looked at more specific opportunities, but I do feel that when you have graduate training in the sciences, that prepares you to tackle a lot of different challenges—so the training you get equips you for a wide range of scientific fields.  I don’t think it necessarily has to be directly related to the particular research I’m currently doing in graduate school.  It’s all about the skills you learn in research that are transferable to an industry environment.  So I think this opportunity is out there for me, but eventually, I do want to end up in academia.

How does your current research work fit with these goals?

Cognitive neuroscience is a rapidly emerging field: there’s a lot of progress made in the past decade, and even greater promise for its future as a scientific field.  The department here at Duke is on the cutting edge in terms of the research areas and issues it focuses on.  It is definitely one of the key players in memory research so I think my research training here gives me the right background to jump into my field and be successful.
The department also provides considerable teaching experience through teaching assistantships.  As a TA, I get to learn about pedagogical issues and situations that a faculty member might face.So I think the balance between research and teaching in my program adequately prepares me for being an academic. 

You’ve seen the graduate career services brochure, and the general services we offer.  Which of these services do you feel are particularly useful for a graduate student in your field?

I think for graduate students who are looking to get a job in academia, the mock interviews and the advising sessions would be the most useful.  Interviewing for a postdoc or a faculty position is, I think, one of the most intimidating parts of the job search process.  So going to a mock interview is useful for learning how to overcome anxiety when talking to more advanced professionals in the field, and also for knowing how to talk about my own research.

Have you ever availed yourself of any of these services, or attended any programs sponsored by the Career Center? Did you find it useful? In what way?

No.  I will probably start thinking about taking advantage of graduate career services in my fourth year.  By then, I will have a better grasp of what sort of career path I want to explore—whether, for example, I would like to work for a major research university or a small liberal arts college.  These are important life decisions, and I don’t think I’m quite ready to make them just yet.

How do you keep a work-life balance as a graduate student?

It’s a matter of framing your mind—for example, when I’m at work, I do work and when I’m at home, I take my mind off work.  I try not to mix the two together.  I think it’s important to find the time and space for relaxation; bringing work issues into other areas in your life just ends up increasing your stress level, which ultimately affect your work.

I also have a puppy.  My puppy helps!